23 April 2018

Tenseisha wa Cheat o Nozomanai. Volume 2 - Chapter 6 Part 1

DISCLAIMER: There is no guarantee that my translation is 100%
correct. Please correct me if I was wrong.

Author:

Natsuki Aoi 奈月葵

Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan

Editor:

ONLINE GRAMMAR EDITOR

Volume 2

Chapter 6 Part 1

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Eight centuries and a few decades ago, Iscalio Empire
was extremely prosperous Magic Nation under the reign of the strongest and most
celebrated Flame Emperor, Igirma Or Iscalio.

The Fimeria Province as the Empire’s frontier land was
adjacent to the other countries, but the power of the empire is mighty.
Therefore, there were no countries that will wage a war thoughtlessly, and the
16 years old Flaruca had an extremely peaceful life as a daughter of a Margrave.

Then that day too should be yet another day where
nothing happens. Her father and his next heir, her younger brother, left for
the Imperial Capital for a task, it was a custom event held once every few
years. If the trip proceeds smoothly, it would take about 3 months for a round
trip with a carriage. They had been staying in the Imperial Capital for one
month. Soon, there would be a message of their return to the Province so Flaruca
and her mother was waiting for it.

However, that peace came to an end. One day, at a
dawn, there was a bad news arrived from the Wind Magic Transmission Bird cast
by the Second Aide who accompanied her father.

🐦 Swarm of monsters from
the castle. Will definitely return.🐦

This very brief message sent a severe shock to the Province.

As if to acting in concert with the monster of Imperial
Capital, the number of sighting of magic beast and monster in the province continued
to increase day by day. Furthermore, it began to inflict damages on the citizen.
This was unmanageable just by the vigilante groups alone, so they had to
dispatch the Lord’s soldiers to various places to lead the subjugation and took
countermeasures.

Flaruca’s mother, who was forced to respond to these
events as the wife of the Lord, finally collapsed from excessive anxiety for her
husband and son who hadn’t yet return even after five months had passed since
their message.

Flaruca called one Aide to the Lord-less office and
presented the document that she had just written.

「From now on, you will assume the duty as the acting Lord.」(Flaruca)

「Wh-what are you talking about!」(Bartol)

The document was for leaving the authority of the Lord
to him as the aide.

「It is fortunate that my father did not take you, the First Aide, and
instead took the young Second Aide to train him. Thanks to this, my mother and
me, could properly govern as the acting Lord. But this is not possible anymore.
My mother needs a medical treatment.」(Flaruca)

「Then Flaruca-sama can……」(Bartol)

「There is something that I want to do.」(Flaruca)

「Want to do?」(Bartol)

Even though she felt sorry for to the confused Bartol,
Flaruca spoke out.

「I want to go and search for Father and the others.」(Flaruca)

Gulp, there was a gasp.

「…… can’t do.」(Bartol)

Bartol muttered, then strongly shook his head.

「That can’t do! Outside the province…… No, even inside the Province, there
are many confirmed appearance of magic beasts and monsters that have turned ferocious.
If something happened to ojou-sama……」(Bartol)

The remaining words never came. However, even without
hearing it, they understand.

――If Flaruca dies, there will be no one to succeed Fimeria territory.

This line assumed that the current Lord and his heir
are already dead. This was an ill-omened saying, so he couldn’t bring himself
to say it.

「I understand, Bartol. Even if they didn’t use a horse carriage and went back
to the Province from the Imperial Capital on foot, it is already way too late. Even
though there are already refugees fleeing the Imperial Capital arrived in
Fimeria Province, there is nary a contact from Father or the others. Both of
them…… might have died.」(Flaruca)

Flaruca forced the last few words out of her mouth.

To go towards the Capital of the Empire located in the
northwestern part of the continent, one must cross the Yggurd Heights that separating
the Imperial Capital from each Province. It was not as rugged as a mountain
crossing, but it would take a longer time compared to walk on a flat plain. For
a horse-drawn carriage, a round trip would be about three months. But five
months had passed. She had to be prepared for the worst. But ...

「Father and Little Brother have Earth Attribute that excels on defense. That’s
why…… That’s why perhaps they are staying on a village or town somewhere to
protect the wounded, then if they forget to contact us, I will give spank them
ten times for Mother’s share too.」(Flaruca)

Then they would immediately return to the Fimeria Province.

「If I arrived at the Imperial Capital and still find no traces of them, then
I will give up. I will get something that likely to be their remains and return
soon.」(Flaruca)

「However,」(Bartol)

「I am the Miko of the Earth Spirit King, you know? I won’t be that easily killed
by a monster.」(Flaruca)

She had to thank the Earth Spirit King she met when she
was young. Her body as a Miko couldn’t be easily hurt, and she can exert a much
stronger force than a normal Body Enhancement and not suffering any fatigue. With
one swing of a mace ――no, if she wants to do it, even
with her bare hand, she could defeat a bear magic beast. Her Earth Magic was powerful
too.

「However, depending on the opponent, it will turn into a defense battle.」(?)

「Thor.」(Flaruca)

「Thor-sama」(Bartol)

From the entrance to the office which was left open, Flaruca’s
three years older cousin – and also her fiancée – entered the room.

「The long-distance capable attack, Saxum
Glandis(Rock Bullet), become less powerful as the
distance increase, and they can’t penetrate if the monster has strong physical resistance.」(Thor)

He slowly approached Flaruca and peered at her face.

「Since magic beasts and monsters have short temper, if make a sturdy barrier
that is difficult to be destroyed, they will give up and look for another prey.」(Flaruca)

Flaruca frowned her brows.

「However, Luca, if as the result, the monster will attack another person as
a result, will you accept that? Won’t you brave the perils of a close combat and
try to defeat them instead?」(Thor)

「Of course, I will.」(Flaruca)

「Then, I have to refuse your plan. It will take months to travel towards the
Imperial Capital and to return with that mindset, isn’t it? Obaa-sama’s will
become sicker from worry, you know.」(Thor)

Flaruca herself was aware of this. But without knowing
the whereabouts of her father and little brother, she couldn’t give up on them
at all and unable to move on from this fact. Even if her plan will make her
mother sad.

「Then, I will ride a war horse.」(Flaruca)

「Indeed a war horse is hardy. They also are fast on their legs. If it’s you,
then you could travel while protecting the horses. But if you try to defeat the
monsters you encountered, it will take too much time if you are not hunting
them aggressively.」(Thor)

「So what are you objecting to?」(Flaruca)

「That you are going alone.」(Thor)

「Thor-sama, you mean……」(Bartol)

「I will go as well.」(Thor)

Flaruca and Bartol opened their eyes.

「I know that my wife is not someone who will not listen. I will be the one responsible
for attacking the monsters.」(Thor)

「I am not your wife.」(Flaruca)

Thor made a small smile at Flaruca who pouted and
turned her face away.

「Ah, but a fiancée is the future wife.」(Thor)

「……Kuuu. Bartol! It will be fine
if both of us go together, right!」(Flaruca)

「No, but,」(Bartol)

「IT・WILL・BE・FINE・RIGHT!」(Flaruca)

「……………………Yes」(Bartol)

The cheek-flushed Flaruca pressed her face at Bartol
who then reluctantly agreed.

「If we haven’t returned after one year has passed, then you could think us
as dead.」(Flaruca)

「Ojou-sama!?」(Bartol)

Flaruca nonchalantly told the Aide who became pale.

「Isn’t that reasonable when the deadline had passed? Especially given the
recent events. However, I promise that I will definitely return.」(Flaruca)

「Luca, I have a problem with that sentence.」(Thor)

As Thor had pointed out, Flaruca tilted her head and
then with an “Ah!”, she understood.

「Father who had said that he will definitely return, still doesn’t return to
this day, right?」(Flaruca)

It would be a common trope in a story, that a daughter
who left the same words went to find them and didn’t return.

「I will come after preparing for the journey. At any rate, the departure is tomorrow,
right?」(Thor)

With that words, he waved his hand and he left the
office.

「Can he stops teasing me already?」(Flaruca)

Bartol smiled fondly at Flaruca who was smacking at the
desk. it was gladdening that both of them had a close relationship.

「However, I have to give a warning to Thor-sama afterward.」(Bartol)

Bartol muttered quietly so that it wouldn’t be heard by
the fretful Lord’s daughter in front of him. Even if they are engaged, it will
be a journey with an unwed young girl. On behalf of the Lord, Bartol firmly
decided that he should properly stick a stern warning.

Bartol bowed and was going to leave the room when he remembered
that there was something that he needs to report. Since he was so surprised at being
called by Flaruca's and the subsequent flow of events, he almost forgot to
report. Since the term for his unexpected appointment as the acting Lord would
be from tomorrow until Flaruca’s return, she was still the acting Lord for the
present.

「Flaruca-sama」(Bartol)

「What is it? I won’t listen if you reject my plan at this point of time?」(Flaruca)

「Yes, I am aware of that. As soon as I receive a message of your return, I
will prepare a feast to welcome your return.」(Bartol)

「…… It’s a return celebration, okay?」(Flaruca)

Bartol smiled at Flaruca who emphasized her words.

「I understand, ojou-sama.」(Bartol)

「Do you really understand, I wonder?」(Flaruca)

Bartol silently smiled when she expressed her dissatisfaction.

Flaruca also understood. Both Thor and Bartol were trying
to cheer her up.

They were also concerned about the Lord and their colleagues
whose whereabouts are unknown. Even if they made a gloomy face, good news
wouldn’t come. Then, for her collapsed mother and considering the feeling of Flaruca,
who said that she would go and search for her missing family, the shouldn’t let
the gloominess floating in the air.

Both of them look at each other expression and
understood what on each respective mind before smiling to each other. Then, Bartol
made a blink and tightened his mouth before spoke up to finally make a report.

「Flaruca-sama, there is a worrying report from the Lord’s soldiers who had
been dispatched to various places.」(Bartol)

「I am listening.」(Flaruca)

The Aide’s eyes were serious so Flaruca responded as
the acting Lord. When the Aide called her name, it was basically the time for work.
The previous mood was inadvertently gone.

「I have already reported about the increases in magic beats and monsters,
but it seemed that recently they have become ferocious. A magic beast’s
physical strength came from Body Enhancement, but the monsters, that are believed
to be evolved from the magic beast, had an increase in their magic power.」(Bartol)

「Isn’t this just an individual difference?」(Flaruca)

「No, it’s probably not. For example, the Wild Boar magic beast. Until now, two
soldiers are needed to eliminate one Wild Board magic beast ――though a single skilled soldier could it alone. Most of the specimens that
appear recently are huge, has a strong charge attack, and to defeat it, an average
of three or more soldiers is needed.」(Bartol)

「That much?」(Flaruca)

「It seemed that a number of trees were broken to the root from their charge
attack.」(Bartol)

The stronger the enemy, the more soldiers will
accumulate fatigue. It will be dangerous if this continues too long.

「There is a story that the appearance of the 『Demon Lord』is the cause for this.」(Bartol)

「Demon Lord? …… So, someone who rules over the Magic/Demons[2]?
That is a quite unexpected idea, but perhaps they based this on the existence
of the Spirit King.」(Flaruca)

It was not similar to the Human race’s Monarchial System,
but the Spirits World also have Kings. The Earth Spirit King is an existence
that records of every being that lives on the land. It seemed that the
remaining Water, Fire, and Wind Spirit King also has their own role.

It was not wrong to say that there is a King that has
some kind of role over the monsters and demons as well. However, she doesn’t
want to believe that its existence had something to do with the monsters strengthening.

“Oh, no,” said he, looking a sort of diabolically
funny, “the harpooneer is a dark complexioned chap. He never eats dumplings, he
don't—he eats nothing but steaks, and he likes 'em rare.”

“The devil he does,” says I. “Where is that
harpooneer? Is he here?”

“He'll be here afore long,” was the answer.

I could not help it, but I began to feel suspicious of
this “dark complexioned” harpooneer. At any rate, I made up my mind that if it
so turned out that we should sleep together, he must undress and get into bed
before I did.

Supper over, the company went back to the bar-room,
when, knowing not what else to do with myself, I resolved to spend the rest of
the evening as a looker on.

Presently a rioting noise was heard without. Starting
up, the landlord cried, “That's the Grampus's crew. I seed her reported in the
offing this morning; a three years' voyage, and a full ship. Hurrah, boys; now
we'll have the latest news from the Feegees.”

A tramping of sea boots was heard in the entry; the
door was flung open, and in rolled a wild set of mariners enough. Enveloped in
their shaggy watch coats, and with their heads muffled in woollen comforters,
all bedarned and ragged, and their beards stiff with icicles, they seemed an
eruption of bears from Labrador. They had just landed from their boat, and this
was the first house they entered. No wonder, then, that they made a straight
wake for the whale's mouth—the bar—when the wrinkled little old Jonah, there
officiating, soon poured them out brimmers all round. One complained of a bad
cold in his head, upon which Jonah mixed him a pitch-like potion of gin and
molasses, which he swore was a sovereign cure for all colds and catarrhs
whatsoever, never mind of how long standing, or whether caught off the coast of
Labrador, or on the weather side of an ice-island.

The liquor soon mounted into their heads, as it
generally does even with the arrantest topers newly landed from sea, and they
began capering about most obstreperously.

I observed, however, that one of them held somewhat
aloof, and though he seemed desirous not to spoil the hilarity of his shipmates
by his own sober face, yet upon the whole he refrained from making as much
noise as the rest. This man interested me at once; and since the sea-gods had
ordained that he should soon become my shipmate (though but a sleeping-partner
one, so far as this narrative is concerned), I will here venture upon a little
description of him. He stood full six feet in height, with noble shoulders, and
a chest like a coffer-dam. I have seldom seen such brawn in a man. His face was
deeply brown and burnt, making his white teeth dazzling by the contrast; while
in the deep shadows of his eyes floated some reminiscences that did not seem to
give him much joy. His voice at once announced that he was a Southerner, and
from his fine stature, I thought he must be one of those tall mountaineers from
the Alleghanian Ridge in Virginia. When the revelry of his companions had
mounted to its height, this man slipped away unobserved, and I saw no more of
him till he became my comrade on the sea. In a few minutes, however, he was
missed by his shipmates, and being, it seems, for some reason a huge favourite
with them, they raised a cry of “Bulkington! Bulkington! where's Bulkington?”
and darted out of the house in pursuit of him.

It was now about nine o'clock, and the room seeming
almost supernaturally quiet after these orgies, I began to congratulate myself
upon a little plan that had occurred to me just previous to the entrance of the
seamen.

No man prefers to sleep two in a bed. In fact, you
would a good deal rather not sleep with your own brother. I don't know how it
is, but people like to be private when they are sleeping. And when it comes to
sleeping with an unknown stranger, in a strange inn, in a strange town, and
that stranger a harpooneer, then your objections indefinitely multiply. Nor was
there any earthly reason why I as a sailor should sleep two in a bed, more than
anybody else; for sailors no more sleep two in a bed at sea, than bachelor
Kings do ashore. To be sure they all sleep together in one apartment, but you
have your own hammock, and cover yourself with your own blanket, and sleep in
your own skin.

The more I pondered over this harpooneer, the more I
abominated the thought of sleeping with him. It was fair to presume that being
a harpooneer, his linen or woollen, as the case might be, would not be of the
tidiest, certainly none of the finest. I began to twitch all over. Besides, it
was getting late, and my decent harpooneer ought to be home and going bedwards.
Suppose now, he should tumble in upon me at midnight—how could I tell from what
vile hole he had been coming?

“Just as you please; I'm sorry I can't spare ye a
tablecloth for a mattress, and it's a plaguy rough board here”—feeling of the
knots and notches. “But wait a bit, Skrimshander; I've got a carpenter's plane
there in the bar—wait, I say, and I'll make ye snug enough.” So saying he
procured the plane; and with his old silk handkerchief first dusting the bench,
vigorously set to planing away at my bed, the while grinning like an ape. The
shavings flew right and left; till at last the plane-iron came bump against an
indestructible knot. The landlord was near spraining his wrist, and I told him
for heaven's sake to quit—the bed was soft enough to suit me, and I did not
know how all the planing in the world could make eider down of a pine plank. So
gathering up the shavings with another grin, and throwing them into the great
stove in the middle of the room, he went about his business, and left me in a
brown study.

I now took the measure of the bench, and found that it
was a foot too short; but that could be mended with a chair. But it was a foot
too narrow, and the other bench in the room was about four inches higher than
the planed one—so there was no yoking them. I then placed the first bench
lengthwise along the only clear space against the wall, leaving a little
interval between, for my back to settle down in. But I soon found that there
came such a draught of cold air over me from under the sill of the window, that
this plan would never do at all, especially as another current from the rickety
door met the one from the window, and both together formed a series of small
whirlwinds in the immediate vicinity of the spot where I had thought to spend
the night.

The devil fetch that harpooneer, thought I, but stop,
couldn't I steal a march on him—bolt his door inside, and jump into his bed,
not to be wakened by the most violent knockings? It seemed no bad idea; but
upon second thoughts I dismissed it. For who could tell but what the next
morning, so soon as I popped out of the room, the harpooneer might be standing
in the entry, all ready to knock me down!

Still, looking round me again, and seeing no possible
chance of spending a sufferable night unless in some other person's bed, I
began to think that after all I might be cherishing unwarrantable prejudices
against this unknown harpooneer. Thinks I, I'll wait awhile; he must be
dropping in before long. I'll have a good look at him then, and perhaps we may
become jolly good bedfellows after all—there's no telling.

But though the other boarders kept coming in by ones,
twos, and threes, and going to bed, yet no sign of my harpooneer.

“Landlord!” said I, “what sort of a chap is he—does he
always keep such late hours?” It was now hard upon twelve o'clock.

The landlord chuckled again with his lean chuckle, and
seemed to be mightily tickled at something beyond my comprehension. “No,” he
answered, “generally he's an early bird—airley to bed and airley to rise—yes,
he's the bird what catches the worm. But to-night he went out a peddling, you
see, and I don't see what on airth keeps him so late, unless, may be, he can't
sell his head.”

“Can't sell his head?—What sort of a bamboozingly
story is this you are telling me?” getting into a towering rage. “Do you
pretend to say, landlord, that this harpooneer is actually engaged this blessed
Saturday night, or rather Sunday morning, in peddling his head around this
town?”

“That's precisely it,” said the landlord, “and I told
him he couldn't sell it here, the market's overstocked.”

“With what?” shouted I.

“With heads to be sure; ain't there too many heads in
the world?”

“I tell you what it is, landlord,” said I quite
calmly, “you'd better stop spinning that yarn to me—I'm not green.”

“May be not,” taking out a stick and whittling a
toothpick, “but I rayther guess you'll be done brown if that ere harpooneer
hears you a slanderin' his head.”

“I'll break it for him,” said I, now flying into a
passion again at this unaccountable farrago of the landlord's.

“It's broke a'ready,” said he.

“Broke,” said I—“broke, do you mean?”

“Sartain, and that's the very reason he can't sell it,
I guess.”

“Landlord,” said I, going up to him as cool as Mt.
Hecla in a snow-storm—“landlord, stop whittling. You and I must understand one
another, and that too without delay. I come to your house and want a bed; you
tell me you can only give me half a one; that the other half belongs to a
certain harpooneer. And about this harpooneer, whom I have not yet seen, you
persist in telling me the most mystifying and exasperating stories tending to
beget in me an uncomfortable feeling towards the man whom you design for my
bedfellow—a sort of connexion, landlord, which is an intimate and confidential
one in the highest degree. I now demand of you to speak out and tell me who and
what this harpooneer is, and whether I shall be in all respects safe to spend
the night with him. And in the first place, you will be so good as to unsay
that story about selling his head, which if true I take to be good evidence
that this harpooneer is stark mad, and I've no idea of sleeping with a madman;
and you, sir, you I mean, landlord, you, sir, by trying to induce me to do so
knowingly, would thereby render yourself liable to a criminal prosecution.”

“Wall,” said the landlord, fetching a long breath,
“that's a purty long sarmon for a chap that rips a little now and then. But be
easy, be easy, this here harpooneer I have been tellin' you of has just arrived
from the south seas, where he bought up a lot of 'balmed New Zealand heads
(great curios, you know), and he's sold all on 'em but one, and that one he's
trying to sell to-night, cause to-morrow's Sunday, and it would not do to be
sellin' human heads about the streets when folks is goin' to churches. He
wanted to, last Sunday, but I stopped him just as he was goin' out of the door
with four heads strung on a string, for all the airth like a string of inions.”

This account cleared up the otherwise unaccountable
mystery, and showed that the landlord, after all, had had no idea of fooling
me—but at the same time what could I think of a harpooneer who stayed out of a
Saturday night clean into the holy Sabbath, engaged in such a cannibal business
as selling the heads of dead idolators?

“Depend upon it, landlord, that harpooneer is a
dangerous man.”

“He pays reg'lar,” was the rejoinder. “But come, it's
getting dreadful late, you had better be turning flukes—it's a nice bed; Sal
and me slept in that ere bed the night we were spliced. There's plenty of room
for two to kick about in that bed; it's an almighty big bed that. Why, afore we
give it up, Sal used to put our Sam and little Johnny in the foot of it. But I
got a dreaming and sprawling about one night, and somehow, Sam got pitched on
the floor, and came near breaking his arm. Arter that, Sal said it wouldn't do.
Come along here, I'll give ye a glim in a jiffy;” and so saying he lighted a
candle and held it towards me, offering to lead the way. But I stood
irresolute; when looking at a clock in the corner, he exclaimed “I vum it's
Sunday—you won't see that harpooneer to-night; he's come to anchor
somewhere—come along then; do come; won't ye come?”

I considered the matter a moment, and then up stairs
we went, and I was ushered into a small room, cold as a clam, and furnished,
sure enough, with a prodigious bed, almost big enough indeed for any four
harpooneers to sleep abreast.

“There,” said the landlord, placing the candle on a
crazy old sea chest that did double duty as a wash-stand and centre table;
“there, make yourself comfortable now, and good night to ye.” I turned round
from eyeing the bed, but he had disappeared.

Folding back the counterpane, I stooped over the bed.
Though none of the most elegant, it yet stood the scrutiny tolerably well. I
then glanced round the room; and besides the bedstead and centre table, could
see no other furniture belonging to the place, but a rude shelf, the four
walls, and a papered fireboard representing a man striking a whale. Of things
not properly belonging to the room, there was a hammock lashed up, and thrown
upon the floor in one corner; also a large seaman's bag, containing the
harpooneer's wardrobe, no doubt in lieu of a land trunk. Likewise, there was a
parcel of outlandish bone fish hooks on the shelf over the fire-place, and a
tall harpoon standing at the head of the bed.

But what is this on the chest? I took it up, and held
it close to the light, and felt it, and smelt it, and tried every way possible
to arrive at some satisfactory conclusion concerning it. I can compare it to
nothing but a large door mat, ornamented at the edges with little tinkling tags
something like the stained porcupine quills round an Indian moccasin. There was
a hole or slit in the middle of this mat, as you see the same in South American
ponchos. But could it be possible that any sober harpooneer would get into a
door mat, and parade the streets of any Christian town in that sort of guise? I
put it on, to try it, and it weighed me down like a hamper, being uncommonly
shaggy and thick, and I thought a little damp, as though this mysterious
harpooneer had been wearing it of a rainy day. I went up in it to a bit of
glass stuck against the wall, and I never saw such a sight in my life. I tore
myself out of it in such a hurry that I gave myself a kink in the neck.

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Since the Spirit Kings has never been absent, perhaps
the Spirits themselves didn’t know what effects will be from the absence of the
King, but the Spirits’ power is from their individual magical powers growth. Compared
to that, were the monsters obtained their power from the king?

「Whether or not the Demon Lord really exist, if this rumor is the result of
the citizen’s anxiety coming to a head, as long as the frequency of the
monsters’ attacks is not decreasing, it will be difficult to eliminate the
citizen’s anxiety.」(Flaruca)

「Perhaps, unless the Demon Lord is defeated, the anxiety in the citizen may
not disappear.」(Bartol)

「What do you mean?」(Flaruca)

「The origin of the rumors of Demon Lord is the stories from the refugees who
came from the Imperial Capital. They said that there are humanoid monsters who
seem to act with a goal in mind amongst the monsters that appeared from the
castle.」(Bartol)

「Humanoid monsters? Have they not mistaken an elf or a dwarf for monsters?」(Flaruca)

Their appearance is similar to a human race, although
there is a difference like long pointed ears, or extremely short stature and
hairy……

They lived a self-sufficient life in the hidden
villages they constructed in the forest deep in the mountains, but outside of
the rare cases of curious individuals leave their village, unless it is necessary,
they wouldn’t leave their village that much. So in the cities like the Imperial
Capital, many people don’t know about their appearance.

Though there are minute contempt from the other races,
if someone is attacked by a monster in front of their eyes, they would surely
help. Perhaps the refugee had a misunderstanding given the battles situation?

「No. Even if they are referred as humanoid, it seemed that even if they have
a human body, their limbs or half of their body are of beasts or insects.」(Bartol)

Flaruca automatically frowned.

「Had the monsters incorporate human-traits?」(Flaruca)

「It’s not clear. However, the Imperial Army soldiers who fought against them
seemed to have called them as Demon Race(MAZOKU)[3]. I believed that this fact, together
with the concern at the monsters that become ferocious, is the origin of the
rumor of the Demon Lord.」(Bartol)

Flaruca thought that Bartol's conjecture may be correct.

「So they seemed to act following instructions that was given by someone…… Since
the Imperial soldiers called them Demon Race, the humanoid monsters belong to a
race that can control magic/demon ――the 『Demon Race』, hence the Demon Lord exists, or so the rumors state.」(Flaruca)

Bartol nodded.

「Because it is a being that rule over the magic/demon, the Demon Lord is
also the origin of why monsters become ferocious, right?」(Flaruca)

She could understand. Indeed, the people's anxiety
wouldn’t subside unless the Demon Lord is not defeated.

Suddenly, Flaruca remembered something.

「Since Monsters evolve by incorporating the traits of their prey, it’s not
something that had not been seen before. Weren’t there rumors about sightings
of unusual looking monster that sometimes appeared in Yggurd Heights a few
years ago?」(Flaruca)

「Yes, there was.」(Bartol)

「And there was no army dispatch order given to the Lords.」(Flaruca)

She heard that there was no army mobilization order to
the neighboring Lords for the subjugation of the new monster. It seemed that everything
was handled by the Imperial Capital Garrison Army. Even against a monster that
they don’t know how strong it will be, – though, this was a delicate topic – they
didn’t even draft the militia as sacrificial pawns.

「The fact that the swarm of monsters appeared from the castle itself is also
strange. Where were them in the castle in the first place? And then, why did
the Imperial Army called the humanoid monsters as Demon Race?」(Flaruca)

The Demon Lord rumor spread after the fall of the
capital. In short, it was a recent event.

「There hadn’t any mention or clue about the Demon Lord rumor before. The rumor
content should be that since the Demon Lord exist then Demon Race exists, but the
actual rumor was instead: since the Demon Race exists then their leader, the
Demon Lord, exists. It should be the first time the Imperial Army saw a
humanoid monster, but why they refer to those monsters as Demon Race?」(Flaruca)

Flaruca, who was muttered as she put her thoughts together,
felt a chill shivering down her spine.

The unusual looking monster that appeared on the Heights
and the humanoid monster that appeared on the day the Capital fell, which the soldiers
referred as Demon Race, perhaps were a similar entity?

「…… Is it to destroy the evidence of experimentation involving monsters and humans?」(Flaruca)

Were the magic beasts and monsters that appear from
the castle was the thing that they want to conceal? Perhaps the Demon Race was born
as a result of an experiment, or perhaps from an experiment mistake, and then an
individual among them, who possess strong individuality, plotted for escape. Then
that incident happened.

「Perhaps, the Demon Lord really exist. Among the humanoid monster.」(Flaruca)

「But the citizens spoke of a rumor that the Demon Lord originated from
amongst the Elves.」(Bartol)

「Why?」(Flaruca)

Flaruca tilted her head from confusion. Indeed, there were
Elves who hate Humans. However, it is unthinkable the Elves who stick with their
principle of noninterference would attack the Humans right now.

「Because they are able to use strong magic without depending on the Spirits.」(Bartol)

「So they want to say that the Elves manipulated monsters – or perhaps it was
the Elves themselves that turn into monsters – to attack humans? Although, they
are indeed well-versed atSorcery Magic,
using this as the basis to judge that the Demon Lord is an Elf, is a weak
reasoning. Aren’t there other Races that is good in Sorcery, like the Dragons
for example?」(Flaruca)

「If the opponent is a dragon, even if we send an entire army to deal with it,
they would be wiped out with one breath attack without the dragon needs to
move. However, there should be only tens or so people in the Lord’s Army that
is on the level of the elites of the Imperial Magic Soldier Corps who had subjugated
the dragons in the past. Even if they gathered the entire Imperial soldiers, their
united power wouldn’t be enough. That’s why they wished that it will be better
if the Demon Lord is an Elf.」(Bartol)

This was the reason Flaruca felt exasperated.

「It can’t be that they will persecute the Elves for that reason, right? If
they do this then the Elves that have connections with the Humans would surely completely
end the relationship. Even the other races may desert Humans. If the integration
with the other races ended then the beautiful fabric, silverworks, or excellent
metal goods that they brought will stop flowing. 」(Flaruca)

「Although it had not reached a persecution level, the citizens are becoming distrustful.
I have informed that the rumors are not true, but if they see an Elf or
non-Human person, they are on the alert whether or not they will lead the
monsters inside.」(Bartol)

Flaruca sighed. It seemed that the trigger had already
been pulled.

「Even though there will be no benefit for the Elves to do such thing.」(Flaruca)

If their hatred of Human become worse, they would only
isolate themselves. After all, their principle is a self-sufficient lifestyle. The
Elves who made connections with humans, only did it in search of excitement.

「If possible, I will also investigate a bit more about the Demon Race at the
Imperial Capital. Bartol, please direct the citizen so they not provoke the other
races in the meantime. If we have good neighbors, then we could depend on them.」(Flaruca)

「I understand. I will do so.」(Bartol)

Bardol bowed and then left the office room.

The next morning, even though her condition couldn’t
be said as being well, Flaruca's mother insisted that she would see Flaruca’s off.
Flaruca who left the mansion with her mother found the Thor who had finished
with the journey preparation waiting for her. But he didn’t notice Flaruca
arrival as he was exchanging a covenant with the Spirit.

「…… Thus, I swear.」(Thor)

Thor concluded the words of the covenant and was enveloped
by a red light from the Fire Spirit.

「Thor? What happened? Why are you making a covenant?」(Flaruca)

「I am coerced by Aide-done.」(Thor)

As soon as Bartol noticed that the situation turned
bad, he averted his eyes from Flaruca.

「What did you swear about? To protect me and return?」(Flaruca)

Flaruca asked as she thought that it couldn’t possibly
that he swear an impossible thing like 「Won’t let even a single injury
befall her」. However, it was something that was outside her expectation.

「I swear to not make a move on Luca during the trip.」(Thor)

「……」(Bartol)

The Aide was silent.

「B–A–R–T–O–L–! I wonder what are you had been worried about, HMM?」

Given the current situation and in addition, since the
partner of her journey is her fiancée, it didn’t seem that there will be a
scandalous event. But for Bartol, he seemed to be worried that the scandalous even
will come true.

「Why are you worried about such thing at this kind of time! Even if Thor lose
control of himself, I could just blow him away with Body Enhancement!」(Flaruca)

「Don’t worry, a light hug until the kiss are still SAFE.」(Thor)

「Are you really will stop at that point? Rather, why don’t you make those an
OUT[4]
as well?」(Flaruca)

「That will be a problem.」(Thor)

Thor quickly approached Flaruca, who was hurling
complaints, and hugged her. Then he pressed his cheek against hers and
whispered in her ear.

「It will be a nightmare if I am not able to touch you. I would collapse from
Luca deficiency.」(Thor)

「Since when my fiancée is perverted like this?」(Flaruca)

Bartol cleared his throat and made Flaruca remembered about
the existence of surrounding people, who put Body Enhancement on her arms to
push Thor away and gain a distance.

「It’s awful to be watched directly by the others……」(Flaruca)

The people who came to see them off were Thor’s parents
and his little brother and Flaruca’s mother. The stare from both family’s
mother going 「Ara ara, my my. *chuckle*」 was really bad for Flaruca’s heart. In order to change the topic anew,
Flaruca took something from her coat pocket and thrust at to Thor.

「Wear this. You can use it like a magic stone.」(Flaruca)

Hanging on the necklace was small colored pebbles tied
by strings: blue, green, white, yellow, and red in order. It was something that
was given by a certain person to Flaruca as an amulet.

「Can this be…… Orb Jewels!?」(Thor)

「Yes, I asked for it from the Earth Spirit King yesterday, including Thor’s
share as well.」(Flaruca)

Flaruca pulled out a matching necklace around her neck.

Apart from the yellow Orb, the Orbs were something
that was obtained from the other Spirit Kings, courtesy of the Earth Spirit
King. For the white stone, it was enchanted with a skill so that the Orbs
wouldn’t be noticed at a glance. Unless someone took it in their hand and saw
at it thoroughly, they would only look at the Orbs as just colored rocks.

「An Orb, unlike a magic stone, automatically replenishes their Attribute Mana
from the atmosphere, so there is no need to charge it every time it is used up.」(Flaruca)

The Orbs obtained from the Spirits King seemed to be
loaded with the King’s Mana, and so it was highly concentrated to the full from
various Spirits Kings.

「So, Orbs that can substitute mana stone for special magic?」(Thor)

「Even if your whereabouts are unknown, if you have the Orbs, it will be easy
for the Earth Spirit King to find you.」(Flaruca)

Thor thought that, as always, the Earth Spirit King was
like a grandfather spoiling his grandchild.

Surely he was delighted that the Miko is relying on
him.

The Earth Spirit King records every being that lives
on the land. However, this doesn’t mean that he remembers it. In practice, he just
receive and store everything.

Even for the King, searching the humongous past records
for a record of a Human without any mark or hint is similar to searching for a
needle that fell in the desert. Therefore, even when the family of his Miko was
in a danger, unlike the Miko who made a contract with him, he couldn’t notice that
danger and lent them his hand. Even now, he didn’t know whether they still
alive or already dead. As soon as he starts searching for the records, the
records in total will still continue to increase after all.

Perhaps because of this, he was thinking to help as
much as he can by giving the Orbs to the Miko, when she said that she would go
and search by herself. He couldn’t refuse when the Miko also pleads for her
fiancee who will accompany her on the journey.

「Thank you. I will put this to good use.」(Thor)

While holding the necklace in a reverent manner, Thor expressed
his gratitude, before immediately wearing it. He was covering the necklace
under his clothes so it wouldn’t be seen from the outside.